When it comes to the most requested colors, ashy brunettes are always at the top of the list.

From softer muted tones to deep sleek shades, ash browns are highly requested, and for very good reasons. They are beautiful, sleek and hard-working, muting unwanted warmth and leaving a shiny, sophisticated, always-chic finish.

What are Ash Brown Colors?

Ash secondary tones contain smokey gray undertones with a blend of violet, blue and green tones. These tones are on the opposite side of the color wheel to warm gold or copper secondary tones. Cool Ash tones will counter-act and mute warmth while reflecting light, adding brightness to even the darkest brunettes.

Ash secondary tones colors are always numbered with a ‘.1’ after the primary number under the ICC coloring system. The primary number describes the color level (with 10 being lightest blonde, descending to darkest black at level 1). Numbers to the right of the decimal indicate the secondary tones.

Neutral tones have a balance of cool and warm secondary pigments. Warm secondary colors include prominent gold or copper tones. Pure Ash tones are free from any warm tones.

Smokey Ash Magic

There is magic in ash tones. Ash colors will tone your hair while coloring, reducing warmth while balancing the tone, leaving a cool, lived-in, shiny finish.

Cool Ash tones are much loved because they boost color without adding any red undertones, reducing unwanted warmth while leaving a silky, shiny finish.

Ash Tones & Lightening

Cool tones are almost always needed if you lighten your color, because lightening always reveals natural warmth, due to the natural contributing pigment. You almost certainly will need cool tones in your new, lighter color to avoid visible warmth.

Warmth + Cool tones = Balanced Tonal Outcome

We recommend coloring with a cool color such as an Ash based color after a lightening process such as a bleach wash. Warmth is revealed when pigments are lifted out of the hair during lightening. coloring with a cool Ash color will counter-balance warmth, correcting the tone and leaving a tonally balanced color result.

Ash tones can be used for color corrections. If you have unwanted reddish, brassy, yellow or gold in your color, adding cool tones with an Ash color will balance and mute warmth. This approach can be useful to correct hot roots or warmth visible after coloring with a neutral or warm based color.

Ash tones are highly requested by color connossieurs obsessed with keeping their hair cool.

What skin tone suits ash brown hair? 

Ash tones are not only for cool complexions. Warm colors can look best on cool complexions (copper tones with pale, cool colorings) and vice versa. Contrasting your hair tone to your skin tone can energise and flatter your complexion. Matching skin and hair tones can sometimes look a little washed out, whereas contrasting tones can complement and flatter. Ask a colorist to help you choose a color that will work best for you.  

Any downsides?

Ash colors are effortlessly elegant, but consider that:

• Cool tones can fade faster if you use heated styling tools, so consider laying off the heat-styling and embracing your natural texture to prevent further damage.
• If you are coloring to cover highlights or balayage, an Ash based color might not be the best option. Highlights and balayage usually have cool tones. Adding cool tones on top of pre-existing cool tones can lead to unwanted greenish tones. Our colorists can provide you with personalised color advice to help you achieve your color goals.

I spent ALOT on salon visits and wanted a more natural look…enter The Shade…could not be happier with my result! I used Duo option Bellaria 7.1 Dark Ash Blonde with Montecristo 6.1 Light Ash Brown.

Jaimie B.

These are the only products I use when dying my hair! I have beached my hair for years and these colors are by best the far I have ever used. My mum is a hairdresser which helps but the shade of Ash I get is far better then any from the chemist or shop I have gone to.

Bailey M.

I will save thousands of dollars. I got 6.1 light ash brown and so many compliments ….freedom from hours of my time sitting in hair salons and no hair breakage . What a brilliant idea THE SHADE !! As women we already pay more just for a hair cut but THE SHADE has made it all possible : bargain and shiny smooth frizz-free hair plus natural brass-free hair color. I cannot thank you enough.

Francesca C.

Loved my first box from TheShade…The color Dark Ash Brown was perfect. Easy to use, no horrible smell, my hair felt great afterwards. And it came with all the accessories I could possibly need. Looking forward to my regrowth to do it all again ????

Michelle G.